Drunk driving accidents
can happen even to safe
The lawyers at Meshbesher &
Spence will fight for you.

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Being the victim of a drunk-driving accident can happen to even the safest of Minnesota drivers. There is a strong relationship between alcohol and the severity of crashes with alcohol being involved in 6% of minor injury crashes, 11% of moderate injury crashes, 19% of severe injury crashes, and 33% of all fatalities. In 2014, there were 88 drunk-driving deaths on Minnesota roads according to the 2014 Minnesota Motor Vehicle Impaired Driving Facts Report. That number rose to 95 deaths during 2015, approximately 23% of all traffic fatalities. There were more than 25,000 DWI arrests in Minnesota in 2015, with June being the most dangerous month and 55% of all alcohol-related injuries occurring during weekends. Statistics show that one out of every seven licensed drivers in Minnesota has a DWI on their record.

If you’ve been injured as a result of a drunk driver, or if someone you know has been injured or killed as a result of a drunk driver, contact Meshbesher & Spence for a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys. Our Minnesota drunk driving accident lawyers have experience in all of the different aspects of these cases and can help you recover damages for your injuries.

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Speak with a drunk driving accident lawyers at Meshbesher & Spence and let us help you receive compensation for:

Lost wages, future earnings and earning capacity

Past, present and future medical bills

Pain, suffering and emotional distress

Permanent injury and disability

Disfigurement and scarring

Wrongful death and funeral expenses

Property damage and car rental

Replacement services

And other general damages

The lawyer you choose make a difference®

The lawyers at Meshbesher & Spence are here to help. We have the experience and knowledge to make sure that you are fairly compensated. We are prepared to work diligently to make sure you are appropriately compensated for your medical expenses and physical and emotional suffering.

As the victim of an accident, you may face lost wages, unmanageable medical bills, repair bills, out of pocket expenses, and a mountain of complicated insurance claims. The insurance companies have experienced attorneys looking out for their interests. We believe you should have the very best attorneys looking out for you. Meshbesher & Spence has more than 50 years of experience of representing injured individuals and families and we will fight to get the compensation you deserve.

You don’t pay anything unless we make a recovery for you

When you hire Meshbesher & Spence, you will not be asked to pay any attorney fees or out of pocket expenses until you receive compensation for your injuries. In the event that you do not recover compensation for your injuries, you will not be asked to pay anything. This means that you have no reason not to hire the experienced law firm of Meshbesher & Spence. It is important to act immediately to protect your rights. Call Meshbesher & Spence to speak with a lawyer to discuss your potential claim. You will receive a free consultation, and our personal injury lawyers are available to visit you in the hospital, at home, at one of our five office locations, or any place that is most convenient for you.

Related Articles

An estimated 32,788 people died in car accidents last year, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, traffic fatalities went down in most regions of the U.S., with the exception of three regions, including the Great Lakes states. While this is the lowest number of fatalities on record since 1949, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Region 5, which includes Minnesota, saw traffic fatalities rise an estimated 3.9%.

So, what can you do reduce your risk of becoming a traffic statistic?Avoid These Top Causes of Traffic Accidents:
1. DISTRACTED DRIVING

Research at the American Automobile Association’s Traffic Safety Division says that between 25-50% of all motor vehicle crashes are caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving includes:
Talking on cell phones
Texting
Rubbernecking
Driver fatigue
Looking away from the road at scenery
Engaging with passengers or children
Adjusting the radio, cassette or CD player
Reading books, maps, newspapers or other documents
2. DRUNK DRIVING

The NHTSA reports that drunk drivers accounted for approximately 32% of all traffic fatalities in the United States last year. The only way to prevent this type of accident is to not drink and drive. Your best bet is to designate a sober driver in advance if you plan to consume alcohol.

3. SPEEDING

Speed is one of the deadliest factors in any car accident. Not only does increased speed reduce the time you have to avoid a crash, but it also increases your risk of crashing, and it magnifies severity of the accident.
Remembering to obey posted speed limits and observing the basic speed law (never drive faster than is safe for current weather conditions) will go a long way toward making the roads safer for everyone.
4. AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

In 2009, Minnesota’s HEAT (High Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) Program defined aggressive driving as “Driving in a manner that presents a threat to other drivers,
passengers, pedestrians, and/or bicyclists.”
Aggressive driving includes:
Unlawful or unsafe speeds
Inattentive driving
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Texting while driving
Failure to follow traffic signals (running red lights/stop signs)
Failure to yield
Following at an unsafe distance
Unsafe or illegal lane changes (weaving in and out of traffic)
Driving without a seatbelt and/or improperly belted/seated child
Aggressive tailgating
If you find yourself in traffic with an aggressive driver, try to keep your distance, changing lanes once it’s safe to do so. Do not attempt to pass an aggressive driver. If the driver is behind you, remain calm and adhere to all speed and safety laws – do not interact with the driver with gestures, words or other signals. If the situation escalates or you feel endangered, call 911 and report the aggressive driver.
5. INCLEMENT WEATHER
Heavy rain, hail, snow, ice, high winds and fog can make driving conditions much more difficult. Make sure you adhere to the basic speed law, traveling only as fast conditions allow, and that you provide yourself with extra time to stop and additional space between you and the car in front of you. If conditions are really bad and you feel nervous or unsure, pull off to a rest stop or restaurant until weather conditions improve.
Though accidents aren’t completely avoidable no matter how careful a driver you may be, avoiding the top 5 causes of accidents can greatly reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact Meshbesher & Spence for a consultation with our personal injury attorneys. Our attorneys are available to visit you in the hospital, in your home, or in our offices, and they will help you determine if you will be able to recover damages for your injuries.

The holiday season is here, which means most people will be spending time with friends and family members. Alcohol is often involved in these get togethers, which also brings a few dangers. Meshbesher & Spence's Andrew Davick recently stopped by KROC to talk about safe holiday fun.
Drinking and Driving
What do you recommend to those who will be attending holiday parties this year? The first thing is that if you're downtown or at somebody's house, make sure you have a designated driver. If not, have a plan to call a taxi. We don't have Uber in Rochester, but you should absolutely make use of the local taxi companies.
Partygoers have a responsibility to others on the road. Yes, you have to make sure you're covered to protect the people on the roads who haven't been drinking, as well as those who are under the influence but have chosen to get home safely, whether through a designated driver or a taxicab company.
Party Hosts and Minors
What's the responsibility of someone who is hosting a party? Minnesota has two different concepts. One is called "dram shop liability," which is the legal responsibility that falls on an establishment that sells liquor and those who work there. If you're at a bar downtown and you're obviously intoxicated at the time you're served, if you go out and hurt someone, there's potential legal liability for that bar in that circumstance. For that reason, bars must be careful, especially this time of year. Everybody wants to have a good time and be festive but the bars are not supposed to serve anyone who is showing signs of obvious intoxication.
What are the signs they look for? They can include slurred speech, red eyes, the smell of alcohol, being belligerent, and other things that officers look for when you're behind the wheel.
What's the other concept? The other potential liability exists for individuals who serve alcohol in their own homes. It doesn't fall on one friend who invites another friend over to drink a few beers while watching the ball game. I don't have a legal responsibility if that friend drives home drunk and hurts someone because I am an adult serving another adult in my home.
There is a moral responsibility in that case. Certainly. I believe there is a certain degree of moral responsibility that comes with that circumstance, obviously, in making sure you're protecting other people. That host simply wouldn't have the same liability as a party host.
What if the person being invited over was a minor? If you're over the age of 21 and you provide alcohol to someone under the age of 21, there's something called "social host liability." Someone in that circumstance not only has some legal responsibility, but there may be civil responsibility, as well.
What if someone gets into the alcohol in your home without your knowledge? That would be a defense, that you weren't aware and didn't facilitate the drinking. If you didn't provide the alcohol, you could reasonably argue that the alcohol was consumed without your knowledge.
What about a boss who has an underage employee? The same responsibilities flow to a business situation. It's best not to provide alcohol to someone under the age of 21 who works for you.
What if you provide alcohol to a coworker who is over the age of 21? If you provide alcohol to a coworker and something bad happens, there's not necessarily going to be legal responsibility as a result. In that instance, you aren't a vendor of alcohol like a bar or restaurant.
Party Host Responsibility
A party host can always let invitees know that they're welcome to spend the night. Absolutely. It's always best to let people know beforehand that they can spend the night if they're too intoxicated to drive. You can also let everyone know you have the number to a cab company on hand if someone needs one. That ensures nobody is enticed to drink and drive.
Party hosts should also be aware of what is going on. It's important to be constantly aware of who's there and who's been drinking, as well as what they've been drinking and how they're acting. As a host, you're responsible for protecting your guests, as well as everyone else who is out on the road, just trying to enjoy the holiday season. Party hosts never want anything bad to happen as a result of our parties. Every year it seems a tragic event happens where a family loses some members or an entire family dies.
We don't want that to happen. That's not what the holiday season is about, that's for sure.
If you're planning a holiday party this season and are concerned about host liability, contact Meshbesher & Spence at 1 (888)728-9866.